Course dates:

20 -26 Oct 2024, Riga, Latvia (Levels , in En)

flexible, Riga, Latvia (Levels 1 or 2, in En or in Ru)

autumn or spring, Cantalupa, Piedmont, Italy (Level 1, in En or in Ru)

August-September, near Strasbourg, France (Level 1, in En or in Ru)

The course can also be organised on demand, either as a residential or in-house. Contact us for details.

(deadline for grant applications in your National Agency February 2025, accreditation deadline is 1 October 2024)

Objective:

• Provide the participants with understanding of the competence-based approach and the implications it has for the organisation of day-to-day classroom practice.

 

Who should attend:

• Teachers and teacher trainers (any subject)
• Policy makers and educational administrators
• Specialists interested in better understanding of the competence-based approach to teaching and learning

 

Course contents (see detailed programme below):

• Concept of 'competence' and its difference from knowledge and skills
• Teacher competences: what, why and how
• Classroom implications of the competence-based approach: what we need to change and why

 

Learning outcomes:

• Participants understand the difference between developing competences and mastering knowledge and skills
• Participants are aware of the competences required from the modern teacher and know what they personally need to develop to become a better teacher
• Participants are willing to make changes to their own teaching to make a step towards meeting the requirements of the competence-based approach

 

Facilitators:

Natalia Kovilina

A deputy head in Daugavpils Lyceum of Technologies, Latvia. Over 30 years' experience of teaching and over 15 years experience of educational management.

 

 

Dr. Alexander Sokol

A teacher trainer, researcher and consultant in the field of thinking skills in education. A wide experience of working with teachers from various educational systems and involvement in curiculum reform.

 

Preliminary programme:

DAY 1
10:00-16:00 Arrival
16:00-16:30 Welcome coffee break & ice-breaking
16:30-18:00 Who are we and what are our objectives for this week?
18:00-19:00 What makes competence-based education different?
19:30 Welcome dinner

DAY 2
09:00-10:30 What's the teacher doing? Being in students' shoes
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country chat
11:00-12:30 What do I believe in? My teacher's philosophy
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 How good are these lessons? 
16:00-19:00 Individual tutorials (optional) / social programme
19:30- Dinner

DAY 3
09:00-10:30 Which competences do my learners need?
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country chat
11:00-12:30 How can I recognise and define competences of learners?
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What are the competences of learners I want to develop?
16:00- Cultural activity followed by dinner

DAY 4
09:00-10:30 What are the competences of learners we often forget about?
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country chat
11:00-12:30 How can we assess students' competences?
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What are the stages of competence development?
16:00-19:00 Individual tutorials (optional) / social programme
19:30 - Dinner

DAY 5
09:00-10:30 What are learning outcomes at each stage of competence development?
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country chat
11:00-12:30 How can my competence-based materials look like?
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What can we learn from colleagues' projects?
16:00-19:00 Individual tutorials (optional) / social programme
19:30 - Dinner

DAY 6

09:00-10:30 Am I ready yet? Finalisation of own lesson plans
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country presentation
11:00-12:30 How will my thinking lessons look like? Presentation & discussion
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What resources can we use for ruther work?
16:00-20:00 Social activity / free time
20:00 Gala dinner

 

DAY 7

09:00-10:00 What have we learned and what are further steps?
10:00-11:00 How will my action plan look like?
11:00-12:00 What's my evaluation of this course?
Departure

 

The programme for each course is tailor-made and is finalised based on the composition of the group. Please also note that slight changes are possible depending on course location and season to let all the participants benefit most from what each course venue offers at a specific period of time. Feel free to contact us for more info.

Course price:

We offer a flexible approach to course fees to ensure that you are able to choose the most appropriate option for your needs. If a participant would like to bring their partner along, they are welcome to do so provided that he/she is ready to spend time with the group during social activities, thus benefiting to intercultural exchange. Please contact us for details.

OPTION 1. ERASMUS+ PACKAGE
(best option for partners receiving an Erasmus+ grant and planning long-term collaboration with TA Group)

• Total price per package per participant – EUR 1400

The price includes 7 days tuition and seminar materials, 6 nights accommodation in a twin room, all meals and coffee breaks during the course, social programme during the course, distant support of each participant during a year + organisation support during a year.

 

OPTION 2. CUSTOMIZED PAYMENT
(The option is for partners interested in a particular course or one of the additional services we offer. You can select any of the services or their combination)

• Course fee – EUR 1250

The price includes 7 days tuition and seminar materials, 6 nights accommodation in a twin room, all meals and coffee breaks during the course, and the social programme during the course.

• Distant support – EUR 250 per year per person (optional)

The price includes online support (answers to questions, comments on reflection, participation in webinars and other online events) during the year following the course.

• Organisation support – EUR 250 per year per person (optional)

The price includes online support for the organisation at the stage of application and reporting, as well as the possibility to have consultation on administrative issues during the project implementation.

 

OPTION 3. COURSE ONLY

We recommend that all the participants stay in one place and spend most of their time with the group as we believe in the idea of informal learning. We have been organising residential courses since 2009 and our experience shows that participants benefit more when they choose to be together with the group for a week of the course. However, if this option is not possible, it may be possible to stay elsewhere and not take part in social activities and joined group dinners.

• Course fee - EUR 800

The price includes 7 days tuition and seminar materials, as well as lunch coffee breaks.

 

DISCOUNTS

Each partner organisation participating in the courses is eligible to one of the following discounts: 

• 10% discount for each participant that attends Level 1 and Level 2 courses during one year;
• 10% discount for each participant if the total number of participant from one organisation that attend the courses during the year is 10 and more.

CANCELLATIONS

All changes and cancellations must be submitted in writing. The course organiser will confirm the cancellation in writing. Refund of course fees will be as follows:

60 days before the beginning of the course - refund 100%
30 days before the beginning of the course - refund 50%
less than 30 days before the beginning of the course - no cancellations will be refunded
Please note that all refunds will be charged EUR 50 handling fee.

Previous courses:

You can also see photos and participants' feedback from some of our previous courses. 

Photos: October 2016, April 2018

Feedback: October 2016, April 2018

Video feedback of former participants (various courses 2014-2016)

Video feedback of former participants (various courses 2009-2013)

 

The number of places on each course is limited, therefore we are asking you to contact us as soon as possible if you would like to book a place.